by Ophir Lehavy Busel

Created on: August 24, 2009   Last Updated: August 31, 2009

All of us have natural, core strengths. How do we learn what our strengths are? Or rather, let's rephrase the question, what makes you really and truly happy? According to Dr. Martin Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness and professor at University of Pennsylvania, if you have ever lost yourself in what you are doing and find yourself enjoying it the fullest, you have already begun your exploration into your core strengths. When you are using your core strengths, you are are at your best, bringing enthusiasm and joy to whatever it is that you do. And then you thrive!

BOOKS AND WEBSITES TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR STRENGTHS

Many books and on-line assessments are on the market to help you identify your strengths in addition to Dr. Seligman's. Marcus Buckingham in Now Discover Your Strengths describes thirty-four personality types that can help you discover your natural strengths. Take the on-line quiz and discover your top five. A classic for job hunters, What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles offers full chapters with activities on finding your strengths and purpose.

ACTIVITIES FOR DISCOVERING CORE STRENGTHS

Numerous activities exist for discovering one's strengths. Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way - a guide on unblocking creativity, suggests writing a list of "Things I've always wanted to try," but perhaps were too afraid. The sky's the limit; write as many items as come to mind. Then, go try them (as long as the items are legal, of course). See what you discover while trying out all those things you've always wanted to experience but perhaps never did. How do you feel while doing them?

At the end of each day - whether doing your "always wanted to do" activities or even your daily routine - write what made you really and truly happy that day in a journal or notebook, as suggested by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. The point of this exercise is to find moments where you feel absolutely in your zone, at one with the moment, and enthused by whatever what you are doing. Keep doing this for a couple of days, weeks, or months. Discovering what makes you happy is more important than the time it takes to find it.

As you become more attuned to what makes you happy, you may want to discover more! Try making a collage, as suggested in "The Artist's Way" as well. Gather as many magazines as you can find. Flip through them. Clip any photos you find where you feel drawn or connected to the images, words, numbers, or graphics. Once you've gathered

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